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Home , Buddhism and Jainism, Buddhist councils, Rishabhanatha, Sangha (Jainism), Siddhartha of Kundagrama, Tirthankara

Chapter 4: & Introduction

The sixth century B.C. is considered a wonderful century in history. During 6th century B.C. , Great thinkers preached their ideas:

 Gautam Buddha   Heraclitus  Zoroaster  Confucius  Lao Tse

In , the heterodox sects started to stand against the orthodox dominated by rites and rituals. Among them the most successful were Jainism and Buddhism whose impact on the Indian society was remarkable. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Causes for the Rise of Jainism and Buddhism

 The primary cause for the rise of Jainism and Buddhism was the religious unrest in India in the 6th century B.C.

 The complex rituals and sacrifices advocated in the Later Vedic period were not acceptable to the common people.

 The sacrificial ceremonies were also found to be too expensive.

 The superstitious beliefs and confused the people.

 The teachings of Upanishads, an alternative to the system of sacrifices, were highly philosophical in nature and therefore not easily understood by all.

 Therefore, what was needed in the larger interests of the people was a simple, short and intelligible way to salvation for all people in their own language.

 This need was fulfilled by the teachings of Buddha and Mahavira. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Causes for the Rise of Jainism and Buddhism

 Other than the religious factor, social and economic factors also contributed to the rise of these two .

 The rigid caste system prevalent in India generated tensions in the society.

 Higher classes enjoyed certain privileges which were denied to the lower classes.

 Also, the had resented the domination of the priestly class.

 It should also to be noted that both Buddha and Mahavira belonged to origin.

 The growth of trade led to the improvement in the economic conditions of the .

 As a result, they wanted to enhance their social status but the orthodox system did not allow this.

 Therefore, they began to extend support to .

 It was this merchant class that extended the chief support to these new religions. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Jainism Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Jainism

 Jainism doesn't have a single founder.  The has been revealed at different times by a .  Tirthankara means a teacher who shows the way. Other religions call such a person a 'prophet'.

 In what Jains call the 'present age' there have been 24 - although there is little evidence for the existence of most of these.  The first tirthankara was and 24th was Mahavira.

 A Tirthankar is not an incarnation of the .  He is an ordinary soul that is born as a human and attains the states of a Tirthankar as a result of intense practices of penance, equanimity and meditation.  Tirthankar is the ultimate pure developed state of the soul.

 Each new tirthankara preaches the same basic , but they give the Jain way of life subtly different forms in order to suit the age and the culture in which they teach. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Life of Vardhamana Mahavira (539- 467 B.C.)

 Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jain tradition.

 He was born at Kundagrama near Vaisali to Kshatriya parents Siddhartha and Trisala.

 He married Yasoda and gave birth to a daughter.

 At the age of thirty he became an ascetic and wandered for twelve years.

 In the 13th year of his penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Gnana.

 Thereafter, he was called Mahavira and Jina.

 His followers were called Jains and his religion Jainism.

 He preached his doctrines for 30 years and died at the age of 72 at Pava near Rajagriha. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Life of Vardhamana Mahavira (539- 467 B.C.)

 Vardhamana Mahavira was the 24th Tirthankara of the Jain tradition.

 He was born at Kundagrama near Vaisali to Kshatriya parents Siddhartha and Trisala.

 He married Yasoda and gave birth to a daughter.

 At the age of thirty he became an ascetic and wandered for twelve years.

 In the 13th year of his penance, he attained the highest spiritual knowledge called Kevala Gnana.

 Thereafter, he was called Mahavira and Jina.

 His followers were called Jains and his religion Jainism.

 He preached his doctrines for 30 years and died at the age of 72 at Pava near Rajagriha. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Teachings of Mahavira The three principles of Jainism, also known as (three gems) are:

 right faith  right knowledge  right conduct

 Right faith is the belief in the teachings and wisdom of Mahavira.  Right Knowledge is the acceptance of the theory that there is no God and that the world has been existing without a creator and that all objects possess a soul.  Right conduct refers to the observance of the five great vows. They are:

 not to injure life  not to lie  not to steal  not to acquire property  not to lead immoral life. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Teachings of Mahavira

 Both the clergy and laymen had to strictly follow the doctrine of .

 Mahavira regarded all objects, both animate and inanimate, have souls and various degrees of consciousness.

 They possess life and feel pain when they are injured.

 Mahavira rejected the authority of the Vedas and objected to the Vedic rituals.

 He advocated a very holy and ethical code of life.

 Even the practice of agriculture was considered sinful as it causes injury to the earth, worms and animals.

 Similarly the doctrine of and renunciation was also carried to extreme lengths by the practice of starvation, nudity and other forms of self-torture. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Spread of Jainism

 Mahavira organised the to spread his teachings.

 He admitted both men and women in the Sangha, which consisted of both and lay followers.

 The rapid spread of Jainism was due to the dedicated work of the members of the Sangha.

 It spread rapidly in Western India and Karnataka.

 Chandragupta Maurya, of Kalinga and the royal dynasties of South India such as the Gangas, the Kadambas, the Chalukyas and the Rashtrakutas patronized Jainism. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Spread of Jainism

• By the end of the fourth century B.C., there was a serious famine in the Ganges valley. • Many Jain monks led by and Chandragupta Maurya came to Sravana Belgola in Karnataka. • Those who stayed back in north India were led by a named Sthulabahu who changed the code of conduct for the monks.

• This led to the division of Jainism into two sects: i. Svetambaras (whiteclad lead by Sthulabahu) ii. (Sky-clad lead by Bhadrabahu).

 The first Jain Council was convened at by Sthulabahu, the leader of the Digambaras, in the beginning of the 3rd century B.C.

 The second Jain Council was held at Valabhi in 5th century A.D.

 The final compilation of called Twelve Angas was completed in this council. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Buddhism Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Life of (567- 487 B.C.)

• Gautama or Siddhartha, the founder of Buddhism, was born in 567 B.C. in Garden near Kapilavastu.

• His father was Suddodhana of the clan and mother Mayadevi.

• As his mother died at child birth, he was brought up by his aunt Prajapati Gautami.

• At the age of sixteen he married Yasodhara and gave birth to a son, Rahul.

• The sight of below took him away from worldly life:

 an old man  a diseased man  a corpse  an ascetic Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Life of Gautama Buddha (567- 487 B.C.)

• He left home at the age of twenty nine in search of Truth.

• He wandered for seven years and met several teachers but could not get enlightenment.

• At last, he sat under a at and did intense penance, after which he got Enlightenment () at the age of thirty five.

• Since then he became known as the Buddha or ‘the Enlightened One’.

• He delivered his first sermon at near Benares and for the next forty five years he led the life of a preacher.

• He died at the age of eighty at Kusinagara. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Life of Gautama Buddha (567- 487 B.C.) The most important disciples of Buddha were:

 Sariputta  Moggallanna  Ananda  Kassapa  Upali

• Kings like Prasenajit of and and Ajatasatru of accepted his doctrines and became his disciples.

• Buddha in his lifetime spread his message far and wide in north India and visited places like Benaras, Rajagriha, Sravasti, Vaisali, , Pataligrama.

• It should be noted that he did not involve himself in fruitless controversies regarding metaphysical questions like god, soul, , , etc., and concerned himself with the practical problems confronting man. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Teachings of Buddha The Four Noble of Buddha are:

 The world is full of suffering.  The cause of suffering is desire.  If desires are get rid off, suffering can be removed.  This can be done by following the Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path consists of:  Right  Right resolve  Right speech  Right conduct  Right livelihood  Right effort  Right  Right concentration Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Teachings of Buddha

 Buddha neither accepts god nor rejects the .

 He laid great emphasis on the law of karma.  He argued that the condition of man in this life depends upon his own deeds.  He taught that the soul does not exist.  However, he emphasized Ahimsa.  By his love for human beings and all living creatures, he endeared himself to all.  Even under the gravest provocation he did not show the least anger or hatred and instead conquered everyone by his love and compassion.  His religion was identical with morality and it emphasized purity of thought, word and deed.

 He was a rationalist who tried to explain things in the light of reason and not on the basis of blind faith.  Though he did not make a direct attack on the caste system, he was against any social distinctions and threw open his order to all.  Therefore, Buddhism was more a social than religious revolution.  It taught the code of practical ethics and laid down the principle of social equality. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Spread of Buddhism

Buddha had two kinds of disciples: i. monks (bhikshus) ii. lay worshippers (upasikas)

 The monks were organized into the Sangha for the purpose of spreading his teachings.

 The membership was open to all persons, male or female and without any caste restrictions.

 There was a special code for nuns restricting their residence and movement.

 Sariputta, Moggallana and Ananda were some of the famous monks. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Spread of Buddhism

 The Sangha was governed on democratic lines and was empowered to enforce discipline among its members.

 Owing to the organised efforts made by the Sangha, Buddhism made rapid progress in North India even during Buddha’s life time.

 Magadha, Kosala, Kausambi and several republican states of North India embraced this religion.

 About two hundred years after the death of Buddha, the famous Mauryan Emperor Asoka embraced Buddhism.

 Through his missionary effort Asoka spread Buddhism into West Asia and Ceylon.

 Thus a local religious sect was transformed into a world religion. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism

 The was held at Rajagraha under the chairmanship of Mahakasapa immediately after the death of Buddha. Its purpose was to maintain the purity of the teachings of the Buddha.

 The was convened at around 383 B.C.

 The was held at Pataliputra under the patronage of Asoka. Moggaliputta Tissa presided over it. The final version of Tripitakas was completed in this council.

 The was convened in by under the chairmanship of . Asvagosha participated in this council. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Buddhist Councils

The new school of Buddhism called Buddhism came into existence during this council (4th Buddhist Council).

 The Buddhism preached by the Buddha and propagated by Asoka was known as .

 The were collected and compiled some five hundred years after the death of the Buddha.

 They are known as the Tripitakas: i. ii. Pitaka iii. Abhidhamma Pitaka

 They are written in the language. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Hinayana vs Mahayana

Differences between Mahayana and Hinayana

Mahayana Hinayana

Mahayana Buddhism considers Gautama Buddha to Hinayana Buddhist considers Gautama Buddha as an be a divine being who will help his followers to Ordinary human being who attained Nirvana. attain Nirvana.

Followers of Mahayana Buddhism can be found in Hinayana Buddhism is followed in , China, (South) Korea, Japan and Tibet. , , and .

Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism were written Scriptures of Hinayana Buddhism were written in . Pali.

In Mahayana Buddhism, immeasurable joy is the In Hinayana Buddhism, immeasurable joy means wish that others have the joy of unending rejoicing in the happiness of others without any enlightenment. jealousy and not expecting anything in return.

New Form. Old Form. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Causes for the Decline of Buddhism in India

 The revival of Brahmanism and the rise of Bhagavatism led to the fall of popularity of Buddhism.

 The use of Pali, the language of the masses as the language of Buddhism was given up from the 1st century A.D.

 The Buddhists began to adopt Sanskrit, the language of the elite.

 After the birth of Mahayana Buddhism, the practice of idol worship and making offerings led to the deterioration of moral standards.

 Moreover, the attack of the Huns in 5th and 6th centuries and the Turkish invaders in 12th century destroyed the monasteries.

 All these factors contributed to the decline of Buddhism in India. Chapter 4: Jainism & Buddhism Contribution of Buddhism to Indian Culture

 Buddhism has made a remarkable contribution to the development of Indian culture.

 The concept of ahimsa was its chief contribution.  Later, it became one of the cherished values of our nation.

 Its contribution to the art and was notable.  The at , Bharhut and Gaya are wonderful pieces of architecture.  Buddhism takes the credit for the and viharas in different parts of India.

 It promoted education through residential universities like those at , Nalanda and Vikramasila.

 The language of Pali and other local languages developed through the teachings of Buddhism.

 It had also promoted the spread of Indian culture to other parts of Asia.